(1).png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
Book Review/ Masters: Art Quilts
For the past month or so I’ve been enjoying the Lark publication Masters: Art Quilts (subtitled Major Works by Leading Artists). This book is one in a series of fine arts and crafts such as Porcelain, Beadweaving, Gemstones, Glass Beads and others (forthcoming) on Wood Turning and Gold. This series is a nearly square 9×8 inches, and hefty…the shortest is 300 pages, with the Art Quilt volume the heftiest at 416 pages. (Note: all photos in this post are clickable to see them a bit larger–scroll down for LOTS of great review pics.)
How author and curator Martha Sielman, executive director of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA ) and an art quilter herself, managed to whittle her selections down to a mere 40 of the many, MANY outstanding art quilters working today I do not know. What I can say is that she did a smashing job of selecting a representative sampling: from some of our trailblazing artists to some newcomers who deserve to be included in the top tier, from abstract to highly representational, from those who work exclusively with fabric and thread to those whose quilts are nearly encrusted with embellishments, and from around the world, Martha has included something for everyone’s taste, and introduces us to some quilters we may not have known–well, even though I read voraciously and troll for news of the art quilting world outside the United States, there were some artists that were new to me. The artists (in the order in which they are presented in the book) are:
- Jane Sassaman
- Michael A. Cummings
- Ita Ziv
- Cher Cartwright
- Noriko Endo
- Deidre Scherer
- Carolyn L. Mazloomi
- Hollis Chatelain
- Linda Colsh
- Charlotte Yde
- Joan Schulze
- Judith Content
- Kyoung Ae Cho
- Jette Clover
- Eszter Bornemisza
- Pauline Burbidge
- Yvonne Porcella
- M. Joan Lintault
- Katie Pasquini Masopust
- Nancy N. Erickson
- Susan Shie
- Caryl Bryer Fallert
- Jeanette Gilks
- Jane Burch Cochran
- Pamela Allen
- Therese May
- John W. Lefelhocz
- Miriam Nathan-Roberts
- Jenny Hearn
- Terrie Hancock Mangat
- Wendy Huhn
- B.J. Adams
- Inge Mardal and Steen Hougs
- Chiaki Dosho
- Inge Hueber
- Michael James
- Velda E. Newman
- Anne Woringer
- Clare Plug
- Elizabeth Brimelow
The book begins with a brief Introduction by Martha Sielman, and is followed by profiles of the artists. Forty art quilters are included, each with 10 pages. Each “chapter” begins with an introduction written by Martha and a detail photo on the left-hand page, while the full quilt is showed as large as can fit on the page on the right. Each photo has the title, year it is made (which allows one to see progression in the artists’ work and style), size, and a brief summary of techniques. On the subsequent pages, full-shot photos of an representative sample of that artists’ quilts are accompanied by quotations from the artists that give insight to their style, goals and personality.
With only a few exceptions, the photography is outstanding, showing even the stitching detail. For those not familiar with taking photographs of quilts, it is challenging (to say the least!), so the ability to see this level of detail throughout the book is a rare treat. Here are some of my favorites, beginning with one of my quilting idols, Hollis Chatelain:
I had not known of the work of Michael Cummings:
or Kyoung Ae Cho before, but I am certainly glad I do now….time to go surf the internet, eh?
and a photo of another of her pieces:
Ita Ziv of Israel uses highly unconventional materials, like the bags you get while shopping!
Charlotte Yde’s name was familiar, but I got to see some new works:
I love her bold use of color, her often monochromatic quilts, and in these pieces the repeated shield or banner shapes:
Jenny Hearn’s work reflects her South African heritage though it is not always obvious. There is a rich complexity to the visual texture:
and another piece (by the way…sorry about the flash glare!)
Inge Mardal and Steen Hougs’ quilts always stop me in my tracks when I see them in a show. They are very large….often between 5×5 or 6×6 feet! They are densely quilted, and glorious:
I honestly don’t know how Martha managed to restrain herself to a mere forty art quilters…. each and every chapter is a feast for the eyes. I also don’t know how Lark managed to publish such a sumptuous coffee-table book for only 24.95. If you purchase this book from SAQA store, part of the proceeds will go to support the efforts of the Studio Art Quilt Associates promote our art form. It is also available here at Amazon.com. Like The Art Quilt by Michael Kile and Penny McMorris, this book encapsulates the best of the best at a specific point in time. I expect that this book, too, will become a classic and a valuable reference. It’s also just a joy to sit down and savor.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I’ve got the book and it is great. Somewhere in there, I got the impression it might be the first of a series, with different(of course) quilters in each book. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but somewhere I got that idea.
cathi
August 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I am planning to purchase this book with the great review you have done. When I come to your site/blog, I feel welcomed by your way of interpreting the field of art quilting and how you describe your own work. Thanks for being here.
Rae
September 14th, 2008 at 6:59 am
I just completed a course with Norika Endo, also feetured in this book, whow!!! What an artists. This book is a amust have!